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The Museum’s Collections document the fate of Holocaust victims, survivors, rescuers, liberators, and others through artifacts, documents, photos, films, books, personal stories, and more. Search below to view digital records and find material that you can access at our library and at the Shapell Center.

Luigi Beretras was born in Sicily in 1919 to Leopold Beretras and Renee Reiss. He had two sibilings Emanuel, born in 1927, and Anni, born 1920. Leopold and Renee were both medical doctors, as well as Luigi. They lived in Sicily from 1919 to 1933 when they relocated to Tunisia. In 1942, the Jews of Tunis were living in fear. Luigi was 22 at the time and giving private lessons in English and Latin during the war. The Germans invaded Tunis in 1942.Luigi, along with four of his friends, left in hope of reaching the French free forces in Algiers. On the way they stopped in Depienne, where the parents of Yvan Enriquez (one of Luigi's friends) lived. An Italian farmer denounced the group to the Germans and they were all arrested. The Germans also arrested Feldwebel Richard Abel. Ther Germans were going to execute Luigi and his friends the next morning. Richard requested to speak with Luigi and gave him his gun and a map so they could reach Algiers. He helped them to escape. In exchnage, Luigi gave him the address of his parents house in Tunis. Richard escaped and went to the Beretras house where Leopold and Renee hid him until the end of the war when he then returned to Frankfurt.Luigi Beretras (the brother in law of the donor) was the son of two Hungarian physicians, Leopold Beretras and Renee Reiss Beretras. Luigi was born in 1919 and he had two siblings, Anni (b. 1920) and Emanuel (b. January 10, 1927). All of the children were born in Sicily where the family loved from 1919 to 1933. They then moved to Tunisia. Like his parents Luigi studied medicine. After the start of the war, Luigi was not permitted to continue his studies and instead gave private lessons in English and Latin. In November 1942 German troops occupied Tunisia. Luigi left clandestinely with four friends in the hope of reaching the Free French Forces in Algiers. On the way, they stopped in Depienne, where one of his friend's parents lived. However an Italian farmer saw them and denounced them to the Germans who arrested them. The group of Germans included Sergeant Richard Abel. Luigi understood the conversation of the Germans and understood the danger they faced. Not only were they considered Jews, but spies as well. They were slated to be executed at dawn. Richard Abel requested to speak to Luigi while the others waited. He confirmed what they already knew that they were to be shot in the morning. Suddenly Abel told him he would help them escape. Luigi was at first skeptical, but Abel gave him his gun, a map and information about minefields so that they could reach Algiers. In exchange Louis gave Abel the address of his parents in Tunis. Abel went to the Beretras home and explained that he opposed Hitler, how he had helped Luigi and his fear of being taken prisoner. Luigi's parents gave him civilian clothing and hid him in their house. The Beretras family continued to stay in contact with Abel after the war and for the rest of their lives. They spoke every month and met once a year. In 1969 Yad Vashem appointed Richard Abel as Righteous Among the Nations.

Learn about over 1,000 camps and ghettos in Volume I and II of this encyclopedia, which are available as a free PDF download. This reference provides text, photographs, charts, maps, and extensive indexes.